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Gurdeep Pandher is a Sikh-Canadian,
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
-based author, teacher and performer, who makes Punjabi dance videos. Gurdeep was born into a farming family, in a small village in Siahar,
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
. He moved to
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
in 2006 and became a Canadian citizen in 2011. Moving to Canada inspired him to tour the entire country and further understand his adopted nation. He has lived in numerous Canadian provinces, including small Canadian villages, but found his home in a wilderness cabin in
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
. Gurdeep teaches diverse groups across Canada, building cross-cultural bridges and encouraging acceptance, inclusivity and positive race-relations. In an effort to promote intercultural understanding throughout
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, Gurdeep has blended Bhangra with various other cultural dances present in the country. Gurdeep's Yukon-made Bhangra videos have gone on to inspire people everywhere, including
Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
where his work was featured in
French-Canadian French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fr ...
media outlets. In addition to this, Gurdeep has also appeared on British television network
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
, during the
breakfast show Breakfast television (Europe, Canada, and Australia) or morning show (United States) is a type of news or infotainment television programme that broadcasts live in the morning (typically scheduled between 5:00 and 10:00a.m., or if it is a lo ...
hosted by
Lorraine Kelly Lorraine Kelly, (born 30 November 1959) is a Scottish journalist and television presenter. She has presented various television shows for ITV, including '' Good Morning Britain'' (1988–1992), ''GMTV'' (1993–2010), ''This Morning'' (2003 ...
, on Canadian entertainment show, CTV's eTalk, and
Rachel Maddow Rachel Anne Maddow (, ; born April 1, 1973) is an American television news program host and liberal political commentator. Maddow hosts ''The Rachel Maddow Show'', a weekly television show on MSNBC, and serves as the cable network's special eve ...
also featured Gurdeep's work on her show on
MSNBC MSNBC (originally the Microsoft National Broadcasting Company) is an American news-based pay television cable channel. It is owned by NBCUniversala subsidiary of Comcast. Headquartered in New York City, it provides news coverage and political ...
. He is best known for promoting motivation and optimism during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yukon to Canada's coast to coast to coast. In an effort to spread awareness about the
COVID-19 vaccine A COVID19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID19). Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, an e ...
, Gurdeep Pandher made a Bhangra dance video on a frozen lake in
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
, which was watched by millions across the globe. Gurdeep is also notable for using dance as a mechanism to break down barriers which
BIPOC The term "person of color" ( : people of color or persons of color; abbreviated POC) is primarily used to describe any person who is not considered "white". In its current meaning, the term originated in, and is primarily associated with, the U ...
face. According to ''CBC'', "Gurdeep Pandher could be considered Yukon's most famous person on social media."


Viral Videos


Canada Day Video

Gurdeep's first viral video was in 2016 which featured a
Canada Day Canada Day (french: Fête du Canada), formerly known as Dominion Day (french: Fête du Dominion), is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 18 ...
performance in
Whitehorse Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...
,
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
. The video depicts Gurdeep and his dance partner, Manuela Haemmerli performing Bhangra and dancing to Punjabi music with Yukon residents. Overnight, the video received upwards of 250,000 views and was later featured on
CBC News CBC News is a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on the corporation's English-language operations, namely CBC Television, CBC Radio, CBC News Network, and CBC.ca. ...
and
CTV News CTV News is the news division of the CTV Television Network in Canada. The name ''CTV News'' is also applied as the title of local and regional newscasts on the network's owned-and-operated stations (O&Os), which are closely tied to the national ...
.


Video with Whitehorse Mayor

In 2017, Gurdeep Pandher created a video in collaboration with
Whitehorse Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...
Mayor
Dan Curtis Dan Curtis (born Daniel Mayer Cherkoss; August 12, 1927 – March 27, 2006) was an American director, writer, and producer of television and film, known among fans of horror films for his afternoon TV series ''Dark Shadows'' (1966–1971) and ...
. In the video, Gurdeep taught the mayor how to tie and wear a traditional Sikh turban and the pair danced Bhangra together. The video quickly became a viral sensation, receiving over one million views in a single day and a segment on ''
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
News'', ''
Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...
,'' and ''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
''. Together Mayor
Dan Curtis Dan Curtis (born Daniel Mayer Cherkoss; August 12, 1927 – March 27, 2006) was an American director, writer, and producer of television and film, known among fans of horror films for his afternoon TV series ''Dark Shadows'' (1966–1971) and ...
and Gurdeep Pandher made the video to spread a message of diversity and inclusivity throughout the world.


Paralympian Stephanie Dixon and Gurdeep Pandher Advocate for Inclusivity in Cultures and Sports

Stephanie Dixon is a Canadian swimmer, who was awarded fifteen medals at the
Paralympic Games The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the ''Games of the Paralympiad'', is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power and impaire ...
throughout her career. The
Government of Canada The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown ...
added her achievements to
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (french: Panthéon des sports canadiens; sometimes referred to as the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame) is a Canadian sports hall of fame and museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dedicated to the history of sports in Canad ...
and in 2017, awarded her the
Member of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with ...
. That same year, Gurdeep Pandher and Stephanie Dixon joined forces to create a viral video. In the video, both Stephanie and Gurdeep perform a Bhangra routine and swim together in the
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
hot springs. Over 100,000 people on social media have viewed the video. Gurdeep and Stephanie designed the video to promote a message of cultural diversity and inclusivity in sports.


Can-Can Dancers and Bhangra Fusion

Gurdeep Pandher and the Yukon Rendezvous Air North Can-Can Line created a breathtaking fusion of two famous dance forms, Punjabi Bhangra and Can-Can Dancing. Their video supports bringing together two distinct cultures in the world. Originating in
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, the Can-Can is a high-energy, physically demanding dance that became popular in music halls in the 1840s. This video demonstrates the utilization of social media to build cross-cultural bridges.


The Canadian Armed Forces Collaboration

In 2019, The
Canadian Armed Forces } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...
and Gurdeep Pandher collaborated to create a Punjabi Bhangra dance video to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in the
Canadian military } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...
. The video brought together soldiers from differing backgrounds and promoted a message of “One Force” with “One Love” for
Canadians Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
. It was unique, as it was the first time The Canadian Armed Forces participated in a collaboration that included folk-dance from Canada's Punjabi/Sikh nation. In addition to this, the video showcased Canadian
BIPOC The term "person of color" ( : people of color or persons of color; abbreviated POC) is primarily used to describe any person who is not considered "white". In its current meaning, the term originated in, and is primarily associated with, the U ...
soldiers dancing and performing Bhangra together. A diverse range of the soldiers participated in the video including members of The
Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack s ...
, The
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
and The
Canadian Army The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...
. Filming took place at the
Canadian Forces Base A Canadian Forces base or CFB (french: links=no, base des Forces canadiennes, BFC) is a military installation of the Canadian Armed Forces. For a facility to qualify as a Canadian Forces base, it must station one or more major units (e.g., army r ...
(CFB) at
Esquimalt The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de ...
, located west of
Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...
. The video went viral and was shared and recognized by many prominent Canadian figures. The
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
of Canada
Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau ( , ; born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who is the 23rd and current prime minister of Canada. He has served as the prime minister of Canada since 2015 and as the leader of the Liberal Party since 2 ...
, shared Gurdeep's video to his social media. The video was also later shared by Canada's Minister of National Defence,
Harjit Sajjan Harjit Singh Sajjan (, ; born September 6, 1970) is a Canadian politician who has served as the minister of international development since October 26, 2021. A member of the Liberal Party, Sajjan represents the British Columbia (BC) riding of ...
. In addition to this, the collaboration received positive feedback from the existing Commander of The
Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack s ...
at that time, Art McDonald. The now Chief of the Defence Staff tweeted, "As @CanadianForces & @RoyalCanNavy prepare to celebrate Canada Day here at home & overseas (& at-sea!) when duty brings us there, it seems this is the perfect time to celebrate the spirit of inclusion & diversity that is the Canadian advantage! # BravoZulu & T.Y. for this video shipmates."


Dance with Indigenous Chief of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Old Crow, Yukon

Gurdeep Pandher collaborated with Dana Tizya-Tramm, the Chief of a Northern
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
indigenous community, named
Old Crow Old Crow is a low-priced brand of Kentucky-made straight bourbon whiskey distilled by Beam Suntory, which also produces Jim Beam and several other brands of whiskey. The current Old Crow product uses the same mash bill and yeast as Jim Beam, but ...
. The 2019 video featured the Punjabi traditional dance, Bhangra. The notion behind the film was to celebrate friendships among communities in the
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
and Canada. After the video was released, Indigenous network '' APTN National News'' broadcast the footage and interviewed the Chief and Gurdeep. ''APTN'' wrote, "a video filmed in an isolated community in the Yukon meant to spread happiness has now been seen by tens of thousands of people."
Old Crow Old Crow is a low-priced brand of Kentucky-made straight bourbon whiskey distilled by Beam Suntory, which also produces Jim Beam and several other brands of whiskey. The current Old Crow product uses the same mash bill and yeast as Jim Beam, but ...
is home to the
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) is a First Nation in the northern Yukon in Canada. Its main population centre is Old Crow. The language originally spoken by the people is Gwichʼin. Gwich'in Nation Vuntut Gwich'in refers specifically to th ...
(VGFN) peoples'. Traditionally speaking Gwich’in, the area is home to less than 300 people.
Old Crow Old Crow is a low-priced brand of Kentucky-made straight bourbon whiskey distilled by Beam Suntory, which also produces Jim Beam and several other brands of whiskey. The current Old Crow product uses the same mash bill and yeast as Jim Beam, but ...
is isolated from surrounding communities and is accessible only by plane or canoe. Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm, the head of the VGFN government, is the youngest First Nation Chief in the
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
. He made national headlines by declaring a climate emergency in the
Old Crow Old Crow is a low-priced brand of Kentucky-made straight bourbon whiskey distilled by Beam Suntory, which also produces Jim Beam and several other brands of whiskey. The current Old Crow product uses the same mash bill and yeast as Jim Beam, but ...
community. It was the first northern community to make a climate emergency declaration and inspired many municipalities in Canada to follow suit.


Bhangra in -45ºC Temperature

In January 2020, Gurdeep Pandher recorded and produced a video where he danced Bhangra outdoors in the
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
, Canada. In the video, the weather is intense and temperatures drop below -45ºC. The video went viral and was posted by several national media organizations including ''CBC''. At the end of the year, ''CBC'' reported the dance video to be one of the most "uplifting videos from 2020."


Video Featuring Yukon Bagpiper Jordan Lincez

Later that year in 2020, Jordan Lincez and Gurdeep Pandher combined Bhangra dancing to Jordan's
bagpipe Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, Nor ...
music. The video took place in April in the
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
wilderness while the pair were practicing
social distancing In public health, social distancing, also called physical distancing, (NB. Regula Venske is president of the PEN Centre Germany.) is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures intended to prevent the spread of a contagious disea ...
. More than 300,000 people watched the video from Gurdeep's
Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
page in one day. This video was broadcast by '' CBC, CTV'' and ''
Global News Global News is the news and current affairs division of the Canadian Global Television Network. The network is owned by Corus Entertainment, which oversees all of the network's national news programming as well as local news on its 21 owned-and ...
''. ''The
Leader-Post The ''Regina Leader-Post'' is the daily newspaper of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and a member of the Postmedia Network. Founding The newspaper was first published as ''The Leader'' in 1883 by Nicholas Flood Davin, soon after Edgar Dewdney, Lie ...
'' wrote that "Gurdeep Pandher is an ambassador for joy." In addition to this, Canadian Author Heather Down included Gurdeep and Jordan in her book, ''Not Cancelled: Canadian Kindness in the Face of COVID-19,'' which chronicled positive experiences from several Canadians during the COVID-19
pandemic A pandemic () is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of individuals. A widespread endemic (epidemiology), endemic disease wi ...
.


Summer Trip to Vancouver Island

In Summer 2020, Gurdeep vacationed to
Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...
for ten days. Upon his arrival, he posted a video dancing Bhangra on the front lawn of the
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the deliberative assembly of the Parliament of British Columbia, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The Legislative Assembly meets in Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria. Members ar ...
. Shortly after Gurdeep's post, representatives from B.C. Legislature contacted him and invited him to film a video featuring their staff. Members from all parties of the Legislative Assembly danced Bhangra with Gurdeep. Following this, Gurdeep was welcomed by the Legislature Assembly into the Victoria parliament buildings. Gurdeep was escorted by the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal police, federal and national police service of ...
and was invited by the Victoria Police (VicPD) to create a video dancing Bhangra. The VicPD staff were subsequently joined by officers and staff from Saanich Police, Central Saanich Police, Oak Bay Police, Westshore RCMP, and Duncan/North Cowichan
RCMP The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal and national police service of Canada. As poli ...
. After leaving Victoria, Gurdeep travelled to Long Beach
Tofino Tofino ( ) is a town of approximately 2,516 residents on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The District of Tofino is located at the western terminus of Highway 4 on the tip of the Esowista Penins ...
, creating a video performing Bhangra on the beautiful
Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
landscape. Gurdeep’s visit and interview was featured in ''Tofino’s Top 10 Sports and Art Stories of 2020.'' He was honoured by the Fire and Rescue Department of
Nanaimo Nanaimo ( ) is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. As of the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census, it had a population of 99,863, and it is known as "The Harbour City." The city was previously known as the "H ...
. Following this, ''The
Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
'' wrote, "Bhangra dancer looks to bring the message of hope to B.C. during COVID-19." Based on the events from this trip, Gurdeep landed on the cover of ''Explore Magazine'', a Canadian adventure and outdoor lifestyle magazine.


Dancing Bhangra and Remaining Positive During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Amid the 2020 Pandemic, Gurdeep began to offer accessible, Pay-What-You-Can, virtual Bhangra lessons. That year, over 5000 students joined the online classes during the worldwide lockdowns. As schools and learning facilities began to close and shut down, students and teachers relied on Gurdeep's videos for online, at-home learning. ''CBC'' went on to feature Gurdeep's lessons in an article. Using the virtual classes as a platform, Gurdeep raised funds for both
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
relief and Mental Health research. These efforts resulted in appearances in publications from Air Canada's ''enRoute Magazine'', the
Bank of Montreal The Bank of Montreal (BMO; french: Banque de Montréal, link=no) is a Canadian multinational investment bank and financial services company. The bank was founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1817 as Montreal Bank; while its head office remains in ...
, and the
International Paralympic Committee The International Paralympic Committee (IPC; german: Internationales Paralympisches Komitee) is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and fun ...
. BC's TransLink also collaborated with Gurdeep to create a Bhangra positivity video that promotes wearing masks while using the Skytrain and
Transit Transit may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Transit'' (1979 film), a 1979 Israeli film * ''Transit'' (2005 film), a film produced by MTV and Staying-Alive about four people in countries in the world * ''Transit'' (2006 film), a 2006 ...
services. In addition to these appearances, the
Government of Canada The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown ...
requested Gurdeep Pandher, among other prominent Canadians, to make a Bhangra video to celebrate
Canada Day Canada Day (french: Fête du Canada), formerly known as Dominion Day (french: Fête du Dominion), is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 18 ...
2020. Later that year, ''CBC Q'''s
Tom Power Thomas Francis Power (1869 – February 25, 1898) was an American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for one season. In 1890, he played primarily as a first baseman, but also played as a second baseman, ...
featured Gurdeep Pandher on ''CBC'' ''Television'' in a talk show called '' What're You At? with Tom Power.'' Gurdeep worked to produce and post one Bhangra dance video per day during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. His user engagement and total views grew rapidly as an increased number of people across Canada and throughout the world started watching his videos and social media posts. As
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
restrictions grew tighter, many important events were cancelled. However, Gurdeeps audience found motivation and gained positivity through watching his daily videos. Gurdeep received many messages from individuals feeling an amplified amount of stress and loneliness due to the pandemic. The messages indicated that his community had felt uplifted and optimistic thanks to Gurdeep's work. On March 1, 2021, Gurdeep received his first COVID-19 vaccine. After receiving the vaccination, he visited a frozen lake in the
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
and recorded a Bhangra dance video, which went viral.


Canadian Cross-Cultural Bhangra Concerts

In 2016, Gurdeep was invited by local musicians to gather in
Whitehorse Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...
, Yukon and practice together. During the gathering, Gurdeep began dancing Bhangra to their traditional Celtic music. As Gurdeep continued to dance and more musicians joined, the artists were surprised how well their different cultures of music and dance blended together. From this, the idea of the Cross-Cultural Bhangra Show was born and was later titled, ''Bhangra: Dance of Punjab, Canadian Cross-Cultural Concert.'' The show now has been performed consecutively for five years, taking place virtually and in the
Yukon Arts Centre The Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) an arts centre and gallery located in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The art centre opened in May 1992 and contains a 428-seat theatre, and a used to hosts arts performances and exhibitions. The arts centre permanent colle ...
. Year after year, the show has continued to sell out. This annual concert is known for bringing different
Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
cultures together on one stage, providing a message of unity in diversity and building interracial bridges. Gurdeep Pandher has taught Bhangra in the Yukon for serval years and felt it was important to include his students in ''Bhangra: Dance of Punjab, Canadian Cross-Cultural Concert''. In the past, the concert has showcased a variety of performers including local
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
youth, Can-can dancers, Irish dancers, Highland dancers,
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
musicians,
Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...
musicians and performances from Gurdeep’s Bhangra students. To continue to deliver the message of positive race-relations, Gurdeep also performed in the ''Dawson City Music Festival''. He was the first to dance Bhangra in the festival's history. In addition to this, Gurdeep performed in
Whitehorse Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...
, where he was joined by 60 Santas who danced Bhangra with him.


''CBC Arts'' and Gurdeep Pandher, ''Happy Videos Collaboration''

The arts sector of ''
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government. ...
'' (''CBC''), known as ''
CBC Arts CBC Arts (french: Radio-Canada Arts) is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that creates and curates written articles, short documentaries, non-fiction series and interactive projects that represent the excellence of Canada's div ...
'', collaborated with Gurdeep Pandher to create numerous Bhangra videos that work towards spreading joy and optimism throughout
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. Gurdeep Pandher and ''
CBC Arts CBC Arts (french: Radio-Canada Arts) is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that creates and curates written articles, short documentaries, non-fiction series and interactive projects that represent the excellence of Canada's div ...
'' partnered to produce a total of six videos. So far, the two videos that have been released are titled ''Hello Fall'' and ''Bhangra to Celtic Music.''


Books

Gurdeep authored a
poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...
book in the
Punjabi language Punjabi (; ; , ), sometimes spelled Panjabi, is an Indo-Aryan language of the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. It has approximately 113 million native speakers. Punjabi is the most widely-spoken first language in Pakistan, with 80.5 m ...
, titled ''Mitti De Ghar,'' which translates to "''Clay homes''" in English. It was later published by ''Aarsi Publishers'', a publishing company located in
New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House ...
. The book consists of poems and songs written by Gurdeep in his early years. In 2023 he is slated to participate as one of the panelists in ''
Canada Reads ''Canada Reads'' is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC. The program has aired in two distinct editions, the English-language ''Canada Reads'' on CBC Radio One, and the Frenc ...
'', championing Dimitri Nasrallah's novel ''Hotline''.


Movies

Gurdeep Pandher was invited by film makers to be featured as a guest artist in ''First We Eat'', a film about food sovereignty in Northern Canada. The movie was produced by
Dawson City Dawson City, officially the City of Dawson, is a town in the Canadian territory of Yukon. It is inseparably linked to the Klondike Gold Rush (1896–99). Its population was 1,577 as of the 2021 census, making it the second-largest town in Yuko ...
Yukon film creator Suzanne Crocker and is on the long list for best documentary at the upcoming 2020
Oscars The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
. In the movie, Gurdeep Pandher and other characters dance Bhangra in celebration of the local harvest.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandher, Gurdeep Living people Bhangra (music) musicians Canadian male dancers Musicians from Yukon People from Whitehorse Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century Canadian dancers